Contact Jessica L. Goldman

Before proceeding, please note: If you are not a current client of Summit Law Group, please do not include any information in this e-mail that you or someone else considers to be confidential. Summit Law Group has no duty to keep confidential any of the information you provide via email or otherwise unless you are a client of the firm. You message will not be considered a request for legal advice or hiring a lawyer, and no attorney-client relationship with Summit Law Group or any lawyer at Summit Law Group will be established, unless Summit Law Group agrees to such a relationship as reflected in an engagement letter or other written agreement.

Jessica L. Goldman

Profile Introduction

Jessica has represented businesses and individuals in significant litigation for 25 years. Her practice focuses on commercial litigation, including intellectual property, trade secrets, false advertising, contract, business fraud, and non-compete cases. She has substantial expertise litigating homeowners’ association cases, representing associations, board members, and homeowners. Her litigation of homeowners’ association cases has included the successful defense or prosecution of racketeering, breach of fiduciary duty, consumer protection, and fraud claims. Jessica also specializes in First Amendment litigation, including commercial speech, privacy, access, prior restraint, reporters’ shield laws, public records, and newsgathering torts, and she has been repeatedly recognized by her peers as a top First Amendment lawyer.

Jessica works closely with her clients in determining and executing an appropriate litigation strategy. Her approach ensures that her clients make informed decisions which support their business and other goals. She is recognized as an aggressive and highly-prepared litigator in trial and appellate courts.

After graduating from Oberlin College with a degree in political science, Jessica attended Washington University School of Law on a full, merit-based scholarship and graduated in the top of her class, Order of the Coif. She clerked for Judge Daniel Friedman on the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C and then joined Davis Wright Tremaine where she practiced until 2002.

Representative Cases/Matters

Successfully defended a homeowners’ association and its board members in a vast federal racketeering and breach of fiduciary duty case brought by 30 homeowners in the Western District of Washington, including filing five successful dispositive motions which resulted in a defense judgment on the eve of trial. Ortego, et al. v. Lummi Island Scenic Estates Community Club, 2016 WL 6836885 (W.D. Wash. 2016).

Successfully represented minority homeowner plaintiffs against the controlling majority owner and the homeowners’ association on claims of breach of fiduciary duty, violation of the covenants, violation of the Homeowners’ Association Act, and piercing the corporate veil. Then enforced a settlement agreement which the majority owner unsuccessfully sought to breach.

Successfully represented Waste Management of Washington, Inc. before the Utilities and Transportation Commission, the Thurston County Superior Court and the Washington Court of Appeals in litigation that led to the granting of Waste Management’s application for expansion of its biomedical waste services throughout the state of Washington. Stericycle of Washington v. Waste Management of Washington, 190 Wn. App. 74, 359 P.3d 894 (Wash. Ct. App. 2015).

Successfully represented a small telecommunications company plaintiff in the Western District of Washington against a competitor who stole plaintiff’s trade secrets and interfered with the plaintiff’s employment and customer contracts. The case resulted in a judgment of more than $6 million. Straitshot Communications, Inc. v. Telekenex, Inc., 2012 WL 5880293 (W.D. Wash. 2012).

Since 2006, provided pre-publication and other regular advice to The Stranger.

Frequently advises government agencies and elected officials on responding to public records requests, including defending them in Public Records Act litigation.

Represented a Fortune 500 company in a non-compete case against a former high-level executive, resulting in a favorable settlement.

Resolved a complex dispute between doctors in a urology practice, resulting in the successful separation of her clients’ practices without the need for litigation.

Represented the City of Seattle in the Western District of Washington and before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals where the City was a defendant and appellant in a lawsuit brought by the yellow pages industry alleging that a city ordinance violated the First Amendment and Commerce Clause provision of the U.S. Constitution. Dex Media West v. City of Seattle, 696 F.3d 952 (9th Cir. 2012).

Represented Cable News Network and Turner Broadcasting Systems in a Montana lawsuit regarding the application of the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to ride-alongs by the news media. Jessica litigated the case from the District of Montana to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and then to the United States Supreme Court. Wilson v. Layne, 526 U.S. 603 (1999).

Represented the purchaser of a luxury yacht in a breach of contract and breach of warranty claim against the manufacturer in King County Superior Court. The case was favorably resolved on the eve of trial.

Obtained a defense judgment and attorney’s fee award in Adams County Superior Court on a breach of contract claim on behalf of Waste Management.

Represented a large international real estate developer in a malpractice claim in King County Superior Court against its former real estate attorneys and successfully obtained a settlement for more than $5 million.

Represented a closely held corporation in a derivative action brought by a major shareholder in King County Superior Court and obtained a settlement which favorably resolved all claims in favor of the corporation.

Represented the controlling partners in a closely held partnership in a valuation dispute against the non-controlling partners. The matter was resolved in private arbitration in favor of the controlling partners.

Successfully obtained summary judgment dismissal in King County Superior Court of defamation claims brought against The Seattle Weekly regarding an article about a well-known artist.

Obtained a defense judgment in a Douglas County Superior Court defamation suit brought against The Wenatchee World.

Provided pre-publication review for Random House of a Spanish-language book on a controversial Mexican artist.